Luidia

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For the company, see Luidia, Inc.

Luidia
Luidia magnifica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Paxillosida
Family: Luidiidae
Sladen, 1889[2]
Genus: Luidia
Forbes, 1839[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Alternaster Döderlein, 1920
  • Armaster Döderlein, 1920
  • Astrella Perrier, 1882
  • Denudaster Döderlein, 1920
  • Hemicnemis Müller & Troschel, 1840
  • Integraster Döderlein, 1920
  • Luidia (Luidia) Forbes, 1839
  • Luidia (Platasterias) (Gray, 1871)
  • Maculaster Döderlein, 1920
  • Penangaster Döderlein, 1920
  • Petalaster Gray, 1840
  • Quinaster Döderlein, 1920
  • Senegaster Döderlein, 1920

Luidia is a genus of starfish in the family Luidiidae in which it is the only genus. Species of the family have a cosmopolitan distribution.[3]

Characteristics[edit]

Members of the genus are characterised by having long arms with pointed tips fringed with spines.[4] Their upper surfaces are covered with paxillae, pillar-like spines with flattened summits covered with minute spinules. The upper marginal plates are replaced by paxillae, but the lower marginal plates are large and covered with paxillae. The tube feet do not have suckers, but have two swollen regions. A mouth, oesophagus, and cardiac stomach are seen, but no pyloric stomach or anus is present. The gonads are underneath the sides of each arm.[5]

The early larval stages of starfish are known as bipinnarial larvae, and members of this genus do not continue their development after this stage into a brachiolar stage before undergoing metamorphosis. However, they are capable of larval cloning, with asexual reproduction taking place while they are larvae. This has been shown to take place both in the field and in laboratory cultures and has been studied by molecular analysis of sequences of mitochondrial tRNA to identify the taxa involved.[6]

Species[edit]

These species are recognised by the World Register of Marine Species:[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Luidia Forbes, 1839 World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  2. ^ Luidiidae World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  3. ^ Classification of Genus: Luidia Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  4. ^ Luidia Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  5. ^ Family Luidiidae Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  6. ^ Identification of Asteroid Genera With Species Capable of Larval Cloning Retrieved 2011-08-29.
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